We all know that the Bush administration has looked out for the energy and oil and gas industries. It was evident when Vice President Cheney would not disclose who advised him on energy policy early in the administration. It was even more evident when oil shot up to over $100 per barrel last month (it was about $10 per barrel in Feb. 1999).
President Clinton who looked out "for the people" did quite a bit for the big money boys of the finance industry. His changes to the finance industry basically repealed the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 in the late 1990s. This act was put in place as a safeguard against some of the causes of the Great Depression. This was a boon for both investment bankers and commercial bankers. It may be one of the major causes of the lack of oversight that led to the current mortgage crisis. The bankers now entered new markets, developed new ways of doing things and made a ton of money.
Who will the next administration look out for? Will they look out for the people, a specific industry or some other special interest group? Lobbyists, lawyers, trade groups and advocacy groups make it hard for the man on the street to be heard. These Washington insiders work for their own interest - which is their own business and personal wealth creation. This does very little for the good of the voting citizens of America.
All of the candidates have some group, interest or industry to which they owe favors. This is a fact of our modern political system. Of course they all say that they will look out for the citizens of this great nation. The real question is which group of citizens they are referring to.
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